Rock-A-Hula

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September 4, 2014 | By Sarah Pacheco

Rock-A-Hula! rolls out an electrifying tribute to music legends with a local twist.

What do you get when you take the King of Rock, the King of Pop and the Mother Monster, mix in a cast of powerful Polynesian performers and put them all together on one stage set in the heart of Waikiki?

The spellbinding, hip-shaking, music-making Rock-A-Hula! show, of course!

PHOTO: COURTESY ROCK-A-HULA!

Presented by Legends in Concert Waikiki, Rock-A-Hula! is a spectacular tribute to some of the most iconic legends in rock ‘n’ roll history, with a distinctly Hawaiian twist.

Music greats Elvis, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga come to life at the 750-seat multimillion-dollar Royal Hawaiian Theater six nights a week, thanks to the talents of dedicated tribute artists who look, sound and move exactly like their celebrity counterparts.

Add in the breath-taking prowess of traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian music and dance, and you have an all-star performance where the spirit of aloha meets Las Vegas showmanship— a definite “must do” for an evening you’re sure to remember!

“Rock-A-Hula! is a one-of-a-kind fusion of traditional Hawaiian culture, dance and drums with astonishing tribute performances of ‘Legends’ like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and more! The entire experience takes place in the most dramatic, state-of-the-art theatrical space in the market, and it certainly provides the opportunity for many ‘wow!’ moments for our guests,” says Brian Brigner, Legends in Concert Waikiki COO.

Based in Las Vegas, Legends in Concert celebrated its two-year anniversary in Hawai‘i earlier this year by unveiling a brand-new Rock-A-Hula! show that features the largest cast of characters in Waikiki.

“The new show is a blend of ‘Paradise Hawaiian Style’ with ‘Las Vegas Show Spectacular,’ and is perfect for the entire family,” Brigner says. “There are many (new surprises), and I don’t want to give them all away, but we have doubled the amount of hula and Tahitian dance numbers, are featuring a new world champion fire knife dancer, have more than 800 new costume pieces, a moving tribute to Hawai‘i’s own IZ by ‘Michael Jackson,’ new aerial elements and a new heartfelt and globally appealing finale.”

Upgrades and enhancements also have been made to all areas of the Royal Hawaiian Theater, offering guests a more authentic Hawaiian experience all around, while rare rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia and collectibles are on display to showcase the many artists who have visited Hawai‘i’s shores.

PHOTO: COURTESY ROCK-A-HULA!

“We made a concerted effort to make the entire experience more Hawaiian for our customers,” Brigner says. “When visitors come to Hawai‘i, they want to completely immerse themselves in everything Hawaiian, so from check-in through the dining experiences through the memorabilia in the lobby, to the décor and finally the show, we took steps to enhance every one of those areas with aloha spirit.

“We wanted to make the show a ‘must see’ for visitors when coming to Hawai‘i, whether it is their first visit or their 10th.”

Guests can choose from a wide range of cocktail, lu‘au and dinner packages to fit their individual preferences and budgets, starting at $65 per adult for the Legendary Cocktail Show and going up to $185 for the Green Room Dinner & Show.

As a special treat, Legends in Concert invites guests to show off their spirit during its Legendary Halloween show October 31, 2014. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite “legend” for the opportunity to win fabulous prizes. All guests also will be given a special party favor.

Also, the “Kids-Go-Free” promo (one child free per paying adult for the Legendary Cocktail Show) that began July 1 continues through September 30, 2014.